What airlines fly to PP? Are there international flights? Any info on safety as well would be appreciated.

Thanks

Thai flies daily from BKK. (Star * carrier too) Their business class fare is about same price as coach if you ask nicely.

I was there in March/April. Don't miss visiting the Khymer Rouge "Killing Fields" is my suggestion, just outside town. And if going to Cambodia and not visiting the massive Angkor Wat temple complex you really will kick yourself forever. For my other comment on Cambodia see if interested:

www.GlenStephens.com/travel.html

Is it safe? From my website report:

Have always wanted to visit this fascinating country but in the past my travel agents have simply considered it far too dangerous. Attacks on tourists are now reasonably unlikely. However, even today some 350 people a month DIE there from landmine explosions, and obviously hundreds more lose limbs. Cambodia was THE most heavily land mined country on earth. You really are conscious about straying off marked walking paths whilst there.


Stick to the known paths is my rather obvious advice, and I mean it!





[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 11-27-2000).]

ps .. welcome to these boards AirJunkie.

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~ Glen ~

I doubt that Cambodia is much more dangerous than NYC! Seriously though, keep your wits about you and I bet you'll be just fine. If you want more info check,
http://travel.state.gov./cambodia.html

Best regards, and welcome to FT!
-levi

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How I dearly wish I was not here . . . .

Levi, you do have sense of humour about the danger!

Those US State Dept. warnings are all a bit over the top in some case. You might not want to visit this place if you took everything in the link below too seriously:

http://travel.state.gov./australia.html




------------------
~ Glen ~

I flew to/within Cambodia last summer.
Flew Bangkok Airways (ATR 42), a very reputable airline, on BKK-REP. I think they are receiving new B 717 these days. Very nice flight. One japanese flight attendant, and inflight announcements made in thai, english and japanese.

Then flew Angkor (Siem Reap)- PNH on Royal Air Cambodge, which is owned by Malaysian. This was a very old and tired 737-200, flown by a French pilot. My theory is that he had been kicked out from AF for smoking too much ganja.
I did not care for this flight or this aircraft, and was happy we landed.

Then flew PNH-BKK on TG, upgraded to C for $ 40. Even got my miles credited on my MP account.

PNH airport is a great place. Lots of soviet made aircraft, and expensive French wine at the gift shop.

Safety is not an issue in Angkor, yes there were mines and probably still are but if you stay on well-marked paths, you are fine.
I would be more concerned about walking at night in PNH. Then again, the same is true in LA. But I highly recommend the city, its art deco market, the riverfront, the royal palace, the Foreign Correspondents Club, the Museum.
Go say hi to Gayle at the Hotel Royal, she sure showed us around



[This message has been edited by Droneklax (edited 11-27-2000).]

I have been there twice, once in 1997 and once in late 1998. The safety situation has been improving in many ways...no, you're not likely to step on a landmine, and you can manage your risk with the robberies and guns (don't go out and about PP after 10 p.m., generally). It's the mundane stuff, like moto accidents or bad food, that can get you. It's NOT a good place to need medical care (I can say that first-hand). Still, Angkor is not to be missed and for Phnom Penh, definitely see the Pol Pot places (Choueng Ek, Tuol Sleng) and the royal palace, and also have a meal or drink at the Foreign Correspondent's Club. You also need a good guidebook, like Lonely Planet. As for flights, Bangkok is the best and cheapest gateway with Thai, Royal Air Cambodge and Bangkok Airways flying (stick with the first 2 if you want jets, though the third is cheapest). There's also Malaysia Airlines from Kuala Lumpur, Silk Air from Singapore and I think Dragon Air from Hong Kong.

Angkor Wat was the cover feature of this past Sunday's New York Times travel section. There is absolutely no landmine risk in the typically touristed temple complexes at Siem Reap. Perhaps if you went ten years ago, but definitely not now. Angkor Wat is simply one of the most amazing places on earth, and hopefully that is why you want to visit Phnon Pehn in the first place. If it weren't for the country's sad recent history, Angkor Wat would probably be the premier destination in SE Asia. I spent four days there and two in Phnom Pehn in 1998.

Unlike Siem Reap, Phnom Pehn can be dangerous at night and has every bit the feel of a "Wild West" town (in a nice development economics kind of way). This was true two years ago and I don't think much has changed, with the exception of easier internet access perhaps. Phnom Pehn was one of the few places in the world where I felt uncomfortable walking outside at night (you will be told this by every budget/independent traveler you will meet), which is a shame because Cambodians are very friendly. It used to be that even locals didn't venture outside at night, but when I was there that was changing and you would notice families spending the evening in front of their homes drinking tea and gossiping with neighbors.

If you stick to main tourist destinations (the above posters made good recommendations -- I would also add the kitschy Russian Market as a nice place to pick up souvenirs), Phnom Pehn is fine. However, if you decide to "go out" at night, you will discover an abundance of arms. Every bar/nightclub has at least one bouncer with a handgun. He iss invariably backed up by two other guys with ready access to unconcealed AK-47s. If you do go out at night, you will also discover that prostitution is rampant in the city. Almost overnight, Cambodia sadly now has one of the highest AIDS rates in Asia.

Indeed, from the New York Times!:

Five years after it became widely accessible again, Angkor is on its way to becoming the prime single tourist attraction in Southeast Asia. Siem Reap, the dusty river town on its doorstep, is less than an hour by plane from Bangkok or Phnom Penh. With several flights a day to each city, and plentiful connections to other Asian hubs, visitors from Hong Kong, Singapore, even Tokyo can come for a long weekend.


http://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/26/travel/ANGKOR.html

AirJunkie,I've had an office in PNH since 1994.If you ever need any help,I could ask my staff to help you out.I do fly there once in 2 months but my brother is there every week. Stay away from the streets after 6pm & you'll be fine.Never been to Angkor Wat but make sure you do get there.You'll enjoy Cambodia.

I'm surprised folks are advising against going out at night. I had a great time in PNH during the Independence festival a few weeks ago. See my trip report if you want more details.

While I was the only Anglo face in sight, I wasn't bothered by anyone and all I met were very friendly. As others have said, the U.S. can be much more dangerous than any Asian city.

I basically echo the sentiments above. I've been to PP before/after (but not during) the Ranariddh/Hun Sen 'election' fiasco, and have seen a steady increase in security and safety. Visa-on-arrival at PP has been very doable for awhile, so you don't need to waste time getting a visa beforehand.

Do watch for the beggars and pickpockets though. I'm surprised that they haven't been mentioned already in this thread. Typically you should be very wary of young kids, or women carrying babies, especially around the Russian market and Toul Sleng prison. Otherwise, if you stick to the main areas at night (e.g. along the Tonle Sap river), you should be fine.

Enjoy.

Reminds me of my "good old days" when I lived in P.P. - back in 57-59. No telephones, movies, but lots of fun for a teenager where the fastest cops rode bikes.

Yes, Ankor Wat is a must see. Take at least 2 days.

Agreed, you need two days plus. If you get enough of the ruins have your guide drive you to the northern-most part of Tonle Sap (which is a massive lake). There used to be prmitive communities of houseboat dwellers on the lake, that were truly remarkable.*


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*This was five years ago, but I doubt the modern world has found its way to Tonle Sap yet.

I have visited several times. Angkor is a MUST see.